Marines continue towards Baghdad

March 27 2003

US marines had broken free of fierce fire fights between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and punched forward to within 250km of Baghdad by today.

Looking tired and filthy on a freezing morning, marines were in high spirits after leaving behind the cities of Nasiriya, Sharat and al-Rafit where they encountered heavy resistance and suffered casualties from Iraqi attacks.

"It's a good feeling to push north and closer to Saddam Hussein's backyard. I think he would prefer to hold the fight in southern Iraq but this will show him and take some of the arrogance away," Lieutenant Joshua Lyons said.

"It should make him stand up and take notice as opposed to claiming that the US does not control major parts of Iraq."

By first light today at one frontline trauma centre, 14 civilians were being treated for wounds after being caught in cross-fire.
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Two marines were being treated for hand and foot wounds caused during a fire fight while another eight were injured after their vehicle flipped over along Route Seven south of the Tigris River.

Commander Gary Gluck, a shock trauma specialist, told AFP the marines were injured as a convoy of up to 5,000 troops from the First Regimental Combat Team sped northwards.

"These were just all on the move injuries," he said between treating the men laid out on the roadside. One of the troops, who appeared to be in shock, remarked: "I don't know if we hit something or if a fire fight caused it, the truck just tipped."

Hundreds of Iraqi troops were taken prisoner along the way while the corpses of hundreds more littered the roadside. Towns were deserted and surrounded by the hulks of burnt-out vehicles.

Soldiers also had to contend with swirling dust storms, hail, rain and mud which cut visibility and bogged trucks, hampering combat and the evacuation of casualties.

Pockets of displaced people bearing white flags were seen walking north between towns. Some waved, others asked marines for cigarettes and water.

However, marines were maintaining their distance after allegations Iraqi troops had used white flags to get close before opening fire.

Lance Corporal Brian Jones, 21, said while clutching a cigarette that the marines were mindful of the casualties and the atrocious sight of maimed bodies would never be forgotten.

But he added that his peers had to maintain their focus on the job of ousting Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

"We don't have any time to mourn right now, we'll do that when the smoke clears," he said.

Troops here said heavy conflict was expected further ahead that would include Saddam's elite Republican Guard.

"And I'm looking forward to it," said Lance Corporal Justine Storey, 21. "I'm glad to have cleared these cities, they were nasty. The worst thing I saw was a dead baby, that was awful. Now the fastest way home is through Baghdad so I'm keen to get there just as soon as I can."